The 30-year-old passed a medical on Friday and was presented to the press and the fans at the Spanish club's Bernabeu stadium.

"It's a great honour to stand here in the Bernabeu," said the Dutchman. "It's a dream come true."

Van Nistelrooy has signed a three-year deal with Real, who paid a reported £10.2m for his services.

He is Real's third signing under new president Ramon Calderon after Italy's World Cup-winning captain and defender Fabio Cannavaro and Brazil midfielder Emerson.

"We have a perfect striker who combines efficiency and power with great footballing technique," said Calderon.

When we played the Carling Cup final, that's when I started to feel unhappy

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 218 appearances after joining United from PSV for £19m in 2001.

However, he fell out with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and recently handed in a written transfer request.

At the conference in Madrid, Van Nistelrooy said he was hurt by being left out the team for the Carling Cup win over Wigan in February.

"When we played the final, that's when I started to feel unhappy," said the 30-year-old.

Asked whether he wanted to leave United because he felt Ferguson was supporting other players and not giving him the support he deserved, Van Nistelrooy replied: "You summed up my feelings quite well."